The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-07-08
CLASS POEM.
written for the class Of lss7, Kansas State
Normal College, and read on Commencement
Day. Published by request.)

written for the class Of 1857, Kansas Stat,
formal College, and read on Commencement
bay. Published by request.)
Oh, would that with tongue might utter
That which the heart only can feel;
The soul hath Its tender emotions
That words are too weak to reveal;
Emotions that stir in our bOsOms
The depths concealed deeply within,
And strike the sweet chords on our heart.
strings,
That maketh the whole world akin.
A ship, before leaving the harbor,
Must first load her cargo with care;
Must take on provisions and ballast,
And every thing needful prepare.
For though smooth voyage may bless her
We know not the storms she may meet,
What breakers may dash her to pieces,
Nor sunny skies that she may greet.
When all 10 prepared for the voyage,
The pilot, with resOlute hand,
Guides safely the ship from the harbor,
And then he returns to the land:
With ocean wide spreading before her,
Fair breezes now filling her sails,
With prospects all bright for the future,
She bounds forth to weather the gales.
Importunate prayers ascending,
At morning and evening, implore
That God may, In infinite mercy.
Guide safe to the opposite shore.
But II ne should think, In his wisdom.
Her landing IL not Tor the best,
May those who cross DER the dark river
Find there sweet haven of rest.
The life OF mankind IL VOYAGE
Begins on the morn of his birth,
Continues till God casts the anchor,
And closes his voyage on earth.
The first years are spent In the harbor,
HIS rigging and sails to prepare,
In choosing his ballast and cargo,
or useful and salable ware;
And then, with his papers OF clearance,
Cnfnrling his sail, to the breeze,
He's pil0ted safely from harbOr
To battle life's troubled seas.
Some meet with q prosperous voyage,
Fair breezes and uncOuded days;
But more. far, meet only disaster,
Head-wiuds, and vexatlous delay.
In part, the success ola voyage,
Depends upon, now as of old,
The nature, and worth, of the cargo
And ballasts, that lies in the hold.
Some vessels are burdened with cargocs
All musty and foul with diseases;
With vice and deceit some are laden,
And others with indOlent ease.
But many are heavily freighted
With all that is noble and true,
While Virtue, and Honor, and Wisdom,
Are numbered as part of their crew.
Dear classmates, of old 'S7,
We'er leaving the harbor to-day;
Our papers of clearance are ready;
Onr barks are well out of the bay;
Our sails are unfuried for the voyage,
No more will the pilots hand guide;
We take now our stand at the helm,
Or careiessly drift with the tide.
Mo fleet that has ever left harbor,
Could boast OF surroundings more fsir,-
Sweet June, by her thOusands.Of roses,
With fragrance is filling the air;
Soft breezes from Heaven are waited;
The sea its beauties unfold;
The clouds e'en, that idly are floating,
Gods finger hath tinted with gold.
Our cargOes of science, and logic,
We've chosen and laden with care,
Through long years of toll, when our bur-
dens
Seemed irksome and heavy to bear.
Truth. justice, and right, for our ballast;
The anchor OF hope at our side:
The life boat of faith on our davits,
Should evil our journey betide.
But think not these omens to promise
For each one voyage Of ease;.
We part at this harbOr to traverse
Life's trackless and unbOunded SEAS
And some OfOur barks may be shattered
BY many tempestuous shocks;
May sink to their final repose;
Still others amidst the wild pillows,
Their voyage may bring to a close.
Some vessels may sail to the tropics;
And some to the opposite zone,
Some, sail as companions de r0ydqe,
Some weather life's tempests alone.
But may orr barks ever be guided
BY angel wings lowering near,
And when we grow weary with labor,
Or journey through days that are drear;
Oh, may there be voices angelic
To cheer the long wearisome way,
Until we ride safely at anchor,
Where all Is perpetual day.